3D Shoot help!

Hello, my name is Jeremy Debaets and I am the Coordinator of Mineral Baptist Church Archery. We started holding 3D shoots in September of last year. It has been a huge success in my eyes over the last 9 months. Thru sponsorship with local businesses, we have been able to purchase our own targets first of the year. Currently we have 12 lanes that range in the distance of 30 yards and less. We do all of it on donations only. The important thing for us is to get families and friends outdoors each month instead of the couch. We average about 25-35 shooters each month. The question I have it where to go from here! How do I continue to grow the program on a donations only / small town sponsorship budget? Along with that, we use caution tape around our targets to create safe zone for arrow retrieval, is there ways you help to maintain your 3D shoots safe? I am looking for any advice really about 3D shoots. How you laid it out, how you handle safety, how do you maintain targets for longevity, how do you maintain your attendance and continue to encourage new attendees? Does anyone use raised platforms? If so, are there regulations required to be followed and how do you keep people off of them when the shoot is not taking place. I will stop talking now, but any help is very much appreciated.

For the safety issues we use ropes, flags, arrow etc. to keep people on the paths we desire; however the most important thing is to walk your course with an eye towards clear fire zones behind targets. We have built backstops for many of our lanes but that doesn't replace making sure the areas are not in a line of fire from another station. We are in a hilly area which helps as well. We put our targets up the day before and take them down and store them in a locked shed to help preserve them and prevent loss. We have 2 platforms but our properties are behind a locked gate. If someone climbs over the gate or fence and takes the stairs up to the platform then they do, you can't post a guard 24/7. There are no regulations for height etc. With the economy attendance is a problem for all the shoots; we've seen our numbers go down from 120+ on a good day to now our best shoot for the season will be more like 80 and many will run 50-60. Keep varying your courses as best you can and do different things with them. We've had people shoot at a turkeys through a simulated blind; had them shoot from a lock on stand (just get in it from the ground, no climbing), whatever you can come up with. We have a lake so we've put the frog a foot into the water, had the alligator on the bank going down into the water; you just have to be creative - last month we had a deer coming up out of a ravine with most of the body behind the insert blocked by the bank. Make it different, make it fun. The property you have to work with is going to partially dictate what you can do as well.

Yep exactly what he said and novelty shoots work great winner gets half of entry money club keeps other half lifesaver shoots speed shoots at clays. Saw blade etc saw blade will also help out your local archery shop

Tough

Its tough getting an archery club, or shoot established. It takes a few years of building a good reputation of running a safe, fun shoot.
As for safety make sure there is plenty of safe distance behind your target. Depending on the terrain, you may need anywhere from 50-150 yards for a buffer. You always have to plan for some ding dong sky drawing his bow and tripping the release. No matter how much you preach to them not to draw above the target THEY WILL.
As for getting the most life out of your targets!!! I suggest do not angle your targets. Granted it makes it more challenging and fun but it really shortens the life of your target. If you shoot this month with the target at an angle then next month straight or at a different angle you are basically cutting wedges out of your target.
If you are setting all your targets at 30 yards or less then longevity is going to be an issue. At that close they will get hammered. We have 5 different shooting stakes at our club. Yardages from 5-50. We try to keep the comp and MBO stakes out a bit. These are the guys that will shoot the scoring rings right out of a target at close yardages.
Just make sure you charge enough to shoot that you can keep buying replaceable scoring sections. Most clubs in this area charge anywhere from $8.00 to $15.00. $10-12 for the most part.
We never used raised platforms just for insurance reasons. Speaking of which, your insurance carrier may want to inspect your range. Sometimes they can give you some suggestions. Usually they aren't too impressed with an area around the target just being ribbon off.

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